After the first auspicious snowfall of winter, the emperor was in high spirits. He held a snow - viewing banquet in the palace and decreed that all court officials could bring their families.
Although Song Jinyu wasn't extremely bulky yet, Zhongli Mingye really didn't want her to go. But if he just left her at home,
he was afraid the little pregnant woman would get bored.
In the past few days, her belly had visibly grown. It was round and firm, truly adorable. At night when he held her, he was always afraid of touching it.
Zhongli Mingye didn't want to sleep in a separate room from her. The deeper their affection as a couple grew, the more he wanted to be with her every day. He couldn't bear to be separated from her for a single moment.
He never thought life could be so interesting before. Since he got married, the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was her. His heart was truly filled to the brim.
She was on his mind on the way to court, and after court, he couldn't wait to fly home.
That war was the longest time they had been separated, and it made him truly understand the pain of missing someone.
Now, there was his flesh and blood growing in her little body. Before long, there would be a child in the prince's mansion,
their child!
He supported her all the way from the palace gate to the imperial garden. The snow on the ground had been swept clean, but Zhongli Mingye still thought it wasn't enough.
Although the four maids were following behind, he still wanted to keep her by his side personally. When they entered the main hall, everyone welcomed Prince Yu and his wife.
All eyes "brushed" onto Song Jinyu.
Since it was reported that Princess Yu was pregnant, she had disappeared from sight. There were rumors that she had fallen out of favor and was confined to the prince's mansion by Prince Yu.
Except for Lady Song, the general's wife, and the eldest daughter of the Duke Rong's Mansion, no one else could visit her.
But looking at the situation just now, how could she be out of favor?
The little pregnant woman, Song Jinyu, had a rosy complexion. Except for her slightly protruding belly, her limbs were still slender, her skin was fair, and her features were bright. She stood beside Prince Yu like a docile bird.
Ming Ruyi didn't want to look at them, but she couldn't help but glance at Song Jinyu. As long as she was happy... that was enough.
Concubine Shu was very happy, and her illness had improved a lot. Thanks to the tonics that Song Jinyu had sent into the palace through Zhongli Mingye a few days ago,
she was in high spirits today.
Yu Duanya fed her son some pastries. She gave Song Jinyu a faint smile, and He Yi bounced over, about to pull Song Jinyu.
"Don't move!"
Zhongli Mingye growled, his phoenix eyes wide open and his expression tense. He Yi said helplessly, "Sister - in - law isn't a porcelain doll..."
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. They had only heard that Prince Yu doted on his wife before, but now seeing it in person, it was really sigh - inducing. Concubine Shu and the emperor exchanged a smile.
"Sit down quickly. Serve ginseng soup!"
Song Jinyu let out a sigh of relief and quietly gave He Yi a look to comfort her.
There was nothing she could do. The man beside her was extremely nervous now...
This scene fell into the eyes of a strange maid. Her features resembled those of the former Palace Mistress of Jinshui Palace. Only her eyes were filled with more malice.
And Concubine Qing's face turned cold. A few days ago, she finally managed to send a message to Prince Yu's mansion, but unfortunately... Prince Yu didn't respond at all.
Now Li Zixuan also took her seat.
She sat a bit farther away. She saw Prince Yu and his wife enter the main hall with her own eyes and naturally witnessed their affectionate relationship as a couple.
"She's just good - looking. I don't see anything special about her..."
Li Zixuan whispered to her little sisters.
"I heard that the princess's maternal family is from Liuzhou City. They're frontier officials..." Li Zixuan disdained. Although her father's official position wasn't high,
at least he served in the court. Moreover, she had a royal concubine sister. She thought she was superior to Prince Yu's mansion.
In this kind of situation, Song Jinyu's experience was to sit quietly and eat well. Fortunately, Zhongli Mingye was by her side, so she felt even more at ease.
However... since she got pregnant, she had become more cautious.
Looking at the food on her table, there were many items that were not good for pregnant women. Her beautiful eyes turned slightly cold, and she stopped using her jade chopsticks.
"What's wrong?"
Zhongli Mingye didn't understand. When he looked at the dishes on the table, he knew what was going on.
He twirled the ring on his finger, stood up, and bowed to the emperor. "Father, although this banquet suits my taste, it's really not suitable for the princess.
"She's pregnant now. Cold foods like crabs must not be eaten. Moreover, red bean and barley porridge, almond - stewed turtle are even more harmful to the fetus..."
Prince Yu was usually very reserved, but now he was making a fuss about the banquet. The emperor found it strange. When he listened carefully to what he said,
he realized that the people in the palace were truly abominable. These dishes seemed okay, but if Princess Yu ate them and something went wrong, it would only be because of her own carelessness.
Immediately, the emperor's face darkened. "Someone, change the banquet for Prince Yu!"
Song Jinyu's eyes curved into a smile. This man really understood her mind. Just through eye contact, he knew what she was thinking.
She immediately stretched out her little finger from under her wide sleeve and hooked his. Zhongli Mingye traced a circle on her palm, making her blush and her heart race.
On the surface, he looked calm. He told Qingfeng to find out the root cause of this matter. He didn't believe it was just a coincidence.
Princess Yu was pregnant, and everything should be handled with extreme caution. Who arranged the dishes for this banquet? Investigating would surely lead to an answer.
Concubine Qing glanced at Li Zixuan, and the latter immediately understood her sister's meaning. By now, the banquet was almost over, and Prince Yu had drunk quite a bit of wine.
Song Jinyu felt a bit shy. She stood up and wanted to go out.
"I need to use the restroom..." In this situation, if she asked Zhongli Mingye to accompany her, I'm afraid all the court officials would laugh at Song Jinyu.
So she had Niaoniao and Micui accompany her. "No one else is allowed to get close to the princess!"
As the fetus grew bigger, Song Jinyu needed to "use the restroom" more frequently. In the eyes of those with ulterior motives, this was naturally seen as an opportunity.
The maid who resembled Ouyang Jinsè repeatedly covered her face and tried to get close to her. But the four maids were like door - gods, and ordinary people couldn't get close at all.
Now that Prince Yu held great power in the court, the eunuchs and maids in the palace were all terrified.
So she had to give up her plan. She shot a venomous look at Song Jinyu. "This is just the beginning!"
"Sooner or later, I'll take you to hell with me!"
Her vicious tone was as cold as ice. "Aunt Jin, what are you talking about?"
When the little maid turned around and saw her devil - like eyes, she was so scared that she fell to the ground!
Concubine Qing rinsed her mouth, then suddenly said sweetly, "Princess Yu is really blessed. She's been pregnant for a few months now. I wonder if there's anyone in the mansion to serve the prince?"
"..." Was she asking her? Since she got pregnant, she had become a bit slow - witted.
Just as she was about to stand up, unexpectedly Zhongli Mingye grabbed Song Jinyu.
Concubine Shu said to the emperor as if by chance, "A few days ago, Sister Concubine Qing recommended her younger sister..."
Concubine Qing was a bit flustered. This matter hadn't been finalized yet, and being pointed out by Concubine Shu in public. If things went wrong, her younger sister's reputation would be damaged.
"At that time, Yu'er had just found out she was pregnant."
"I really haven't cared enough about this couple. I'm really not as good as Sister Concubine Qing. However..." Her tone changed, "I think it's really hard to be pregnant for ten months. Yu'er has suffered."
"Ye'er must take good care of her and not let her be wronged."
"Yes! Mother!"
When everyone heard this, they looked at Concubine Qing with disgust. The princess had just gotten pregnant, and even her proper mother - in - law hadn't made any arrangements. But a common concubine in the palace was so eager.
Especially the wives of the main wives, they hated the matter of sending someone like this. Immediately, their looks towards Concubine Qing and the Li family were not good.
Concubine Qing's face turned green and then white.
The emperor also said, "The matters in Ye'er's mansion should be decided by the couple themselves. I and the concubine won't interfere..."
Immediately, he bestowed a lot of rewards on Prince Yu and his wife, which made Concubine Qing grind her teeth in hatred. Li Zixuan saw that her hope of becoming a side - princess in Prince Yu's mansion was dashed,
and hatred welled up in her heart.
Why? She was already pregnant, but she still wanted to monopolize Prince Yu!
"Your son thanks Father and Mother!"
Zhongli Mingye and Song Jinyu thanked the emperor for his rewards together.